Whole30 Day30

It’s interesting when you reach the end of a journey how looking back gives you such a different perspective.

Concerns when we first started:

1. How tough is this going to be?

2. Are we going to be hungry?

3. Will we find food to eat that we both like?

4. Will we have the time to plan and prepare each day/week?

5. Does The Whole30 really reset your system?

And if we had to answer the questions now?

1. It’s tough to change lifelong habits. But, with all the online material, books from the library and some determination, it was very doable.

2. During the first week I was hungry. My body missed the morning hot chocolate, the mid-morning Pepsi and the afternoon peanut butter crackers. Oh, and let’s not forget the evening snack of popcorn after dinner. However, as my body got used to eating healthy foods (in proper portions) the desire to snack diminished.

3. The Whole30 website along with numerous other websites provided all sorts of options and alternatives for meals. We’ve added several new ingredients to our pantry. Coconut flour, oil and milk. Almond flour, cauliflower rice, leeks and coconut aminos. I don’t even want to ask what spices Shawn’s been experimenting with – some things are better left unknown. We’ve also added gala apples – I still can’t do a whole apple but I’ve gotten really good at making applesauce with them! So, yes even with a picky eater like me there are plenty of healthy foods to keep satisfied.

4. Planning and preparing does take time. We have started keeping a running list during the week on staple items we need to pick up. Recipe searches are ongoing as one or both us get the urge for something new. Meal preparation and cooking has become a time for us to partner and share the load. After cutting myself the first week it wasn’t until this week that Shawn had the courage to let me use the chef’s knife again. Hmm, maybe he wasn’t home. Anyways, no blood shed this time.

5. Honestly, Shawn and I started The Whole30 because we knew we needed to be eating better. Our diets had become overwhelmed with processed and junk food. Some friends had been talking about it and one started the plan and couldn’t say enough good things about it. So, knowing nothing more than the website URL we jumped. I’m so glad we did. Neither of us really have cravings and both of us are feeling better.

Our Journey In Summary

Where we wanted to be Day1.

Whole30 Day30 finds me reading Food Freedom Forever on the train to and from work. The book really does a good job of reinforcing that this is NOT a diet, but a reset. And that we will continue learning about how food impacts us and working to make the best food choices for ourselves the rest of our lives.

Tomorrow morning we jump on the scale. Normally, I just slither onto the scale dreading what number will appear. I’m actually excited. I know I’m feeling better and eating better. If you’re thinking about trying the program, check here for all the non-scale victories you could achieve.